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(No Model.)

W. B. MARTINDALE 8a E. R. MALMBORG.

ELECTRIC TIME STAMP.

No. 449,081. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

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UNITED STATES IVARREN B. MARTINDALE, OF

KENOSIIA, IVISCONSIN, AND ERNST REINHOLD MALMBORG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGN ORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELECTRIC DATE AND TIME STAMP COMPANY,

OE ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC TIME-STAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,081, dated March 24, 1891. Application filed August 22, 1889. Serial No.32l,685. (No model.)

To cir/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, WARREN B. MARTIN DALE, of the city and county of Kenosha, and State of Wisconsin, and ERNST REINHOLD MALMBORG, of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Chronometric Hand-Stamps; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference xo being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to automatic eleotrically-operated time printing-stam ps of that class by which an impression is made upon the upper surface of the paper to he stamped.

It has for its object to simplify the con` struction of such stamps and to render the same more compact, more accurate, less liazo ble to get out of repair, and more convenient for use.

It consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved stamp, as hereinafter described and claimed.

2 5 In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal vertical section of our improved timestamp in lineoc :o of Fig. 2, the pawl-springs being omitted. Fig. 2is a trans- `verse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, in

3o line y y of lrig. l. Figs. 3, i, and 5 illustrate, respectively, different positions of the pawl and dog which lock, and release one of the lypewheels- Eig. 6 is a detail bottom view on same scale as Fig. 2, partly in elevation and partly in section in the plane of the wheel-shaft, illustrating the arrangement of the type-wheels, ratohets, regulatingdisks, and pawls; Fig. 7, a transverse section in detail in line .2' of Fig. l, and Fig. 8 is a de- ,to tail top view of the armature and its pivotal supporting-arm.

Similar letters and numerals refer to like parts in all the gures.

A represents the. base-plate of the stamp;

B, the arm carrying the printing mechanism,

said arm being hinged to one end of the baseplate; C, the case carrying the printing mechanism, and which is rigidly secured to the outercud of the hinged arm B, and D an elecn tro-magnet in horseshoe form, whose two par 5o allel soft-iron arms are curved in a segmental form, in order to occupy the least possible amount of space in proportion to its size and the power exerted thereby. The cross-bar E of this horseshoe-magnet is preferably secured to the bottom of the case C at the inner end thereof, so that the arms of the magnet project upward and forward therefrom in a quadrantal curve having' the axial shaft F of the printing-Wheels as its center, whereby the 6o wheels are overarched eoncentrically by the magnet.

The armature Gr for the magnet is constructed with a central arm G', extending at a right angle therewith from the middle of its upper edge. The outer end of said arm is forked to embrace aspring, and is pivoted to the rear or inner end of the casing above the magnet between two lugs a a, as shown in Eigs. l and S, so that the arm is made to extend 7o longitudinally over the magnet. A springm, coiled about the pivot-pin between the forked ends of the arm, is made to bear against it to lift and hold it up. The armature is thereby hinged to oscillate in a plane transversely to the axes of the arms of the magnet, and its front portion is made to depend above and in front of and in close proximity to the poles of the magret in such form as that when attracted by the magnet it will swing down in 8o front of the ends of the arms thereof transversely to the length of the same. Since some portion of the armature is thus constantly in close proximity to the ends of the core of the magnet, the advantage of the stronger attraction which is exerted by the magnet near its poles is utilized during the entire movement of the armature, whereby increased power is exerted and greater length of motion of the armature is secured from a 9o given amount of battery-power- The date and time registering' wheels lO, ll, 12,13, lli, l5, lG,and 17 are all mounted to revolve on the one axial shaft E, which is secured in the lower portion of the case C under the magnet D and transversely thereto, as hereinbefore described. The two outer registering-wheels lO and 17 turn independently upon the shaft F. They are held in positionl by suitable movable catches projecting from the case C, and are adjusted, as required, by hand. Of said wheels the one 17 on the left is designed to print the monthl and the other 10 on the right the year.

The minutes are indicated and printed by means of the two wheels 11 and 12, revolving freely side by side. The periphery of the rst or units wheel 1 1 is divided into ten spaces bearing, respectively, the nine digits and ci-. pher. The second or tens minute-wheel 12 is divided into twelve peripheral spaces bearing, respectively, the figures 1 to 5 and a cipher in two series.

The remainingY type-wheels are arranged in the order of their moving, as follows: The hour-wheel13, (see Fig. 3,) divided into twelve peripheral spaces and bearing thereon, respectively, the numbers 1 to 12 and avpunctuating-dash, is mounted next to the second or tens minute-wheel 12. The meridian-wheel 14, divided into twelve peripheral' spaces and bearing thereon the letters A.M. and P. M. alternately, is mounted next to the hourwheel. The two date-wheels 15 and 16, for printing the days of the month, are mounted next to the meridian-wheel 14. The rst date-wheel 15 is divided into ten peripheral spaces bearing thereon the nine digits and cipher, and is a duplicate of the units minutewheel 11. The second date-wheel 16 is divided into twelve peripheral spaces bearing the numbers 1 2 3 in three series, with blank spaces between each. The first or unit wheel 11 carries upon its hub, to revolve with it on the right, first, a disk b, having a single peripheral notch, and, second, a ratchet-wheel c, of the same diameter, having ten teeth. The second or tens minute-wheel 12 carries upon its hub, to revolve with it on the left, first, a ratchet-wheel d, having twelve teeth, and, second, a disk e, of the same diameter, having two peripheral notches. The hourwheel13 carries upon its hub to the left a ratchet-wheel f, having twelve teeth, and a disk g, of the same diameter, having a single peripheral notch. The meridian-wheel 14 carries upon its left and secured to its hub, to revolve with it, a ratchet h, having twelve teeth, and a disk fi, of like diameter,having six peripheral notches. The first date-wheel 15 carries upon its right, secured to its hub, to revolve with it, a disk having a single periph eral notch and a ratchet 7c, of like diameter, having ten teeth, and the second date-wheel 16 carries upon its left, secured to its hub, a ratchet l, having twelve teeth.

The several registering-.wheels are actuated by a series of pawls K K', dac.,l pivoted at their upper ends to the armature G,so as to oscillate with it. These pawls severally depend each in position to engage one of the ratchet-wheels, so that the upward movement of the armature under the stress of its spring m shall cause the wheels t-o revolve, the engagement of each pawl with its ratchet being enforced by a spring 35, interposed between l it and the front of the case, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower' end of the first pawlK is bent in form to engage the ratchet C,attached to and revolving with the disk b and first minute-wheel 1.1. The lower end of the second pawl K is forked to span the minute-wheels 11 and 12, and its two fingers are adapted the one to engage the ratchet d of the second minute-wheel 12 and the other to rest upon the periphery of the disk b of the minutewheel 11, so that the second finger, being upheld by the disk, will operate thereby to hold the first finger out of engagement with said ratchet d until the one notch on the disk b is brought into register with the second finger, and by allowing it then to swing inward will permit anengagement of the first finger with the ratchet d, so as to produce a rotation of the second wheel 12. `The free end of the third pawl from the right K2 is likewise forked to span the hourwheel 13 and form two lingers, one of which is adapted to engage the ratchet f of the hourwheel and they other to ride on the disk e, revolving with the second minute-Wheel 12, so as to prevent an engagement of the first finger with its ratchet until the second finger swings into one of the two notches on the disk e. The hour-wheel 13 is thus moved twice during each revolution of the second minutewheel 12. The fourth pawl K3 is also constructed with a forked end to span the me- -ridian-wheel 14, and the first of it-s two fingers is adapted to engage the ratchet attached to said meridian-wheel and the other to ride on the disk g, revolving with the hour-wheel 13, whereby the pawl is permitted to swing into `engagement with the ratchet of the meridianwheel and move the same one step only at each revolution of the hour-wheel 13. The fifth pawl K4 rides upon the periphery of the disk t', revolving with the meridian-wheel 14, and it is made wide enough to'overlap the ratchetJc, attached to the first date-wheel 15. By swinging at every other step of the meridian-wheel into a notch inY the disk rl the pawl is permitted to engage the ratchet k, and

thereby move the wheel 15 one step. The sixth pawl K5, which is the last on the left, is forked to span the two date-wheels 15 16, so that one of its two fingers may ride on the disk 7c of the first date-wheel 15 and the other engage the ratchet Z of the second date-wheel 16, when the first finger swings into the notch in said disk, and thereby move the second date-wheel one step at each revolution of the first.

The pawl K2, actuating the hour-wheel, is prevented from dropping into engagement with its ratchet until the pawl K drops into engagement with the ratchet of the second minute-wheel to move it, and the movement of the hour-wheel is made to be in all cases synchronous with that of the minute-wheel IOC IIC

from laterally in front of the pawl K2 of the hour-wheel, so as to operate to hold said pawl K2 until the pawl K drops into engagement with its ratchet. In like manner the engagement of each of the pawls K3, K4, and K5 with its appropriate ratchet is controlled so that it shall be synchronous with that of the pawl next preceding' it by means of a similar pin la, projecting laterally from the 'First pawl, in order in front ol' that next succeeding it, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Each date and time registering wheel is positively locked as soon as its movement is completed, and is so held until the proper moment for its next move by means of a springactuated dog 17, pivoted upon a rod J, extending across the front ot the case, and made to engage the ratchet of the wheel, its engagement bein automatically enforced by means of a suitable spring 36. (See Fig. l.) Each dog 17 is formed with a tooth adapted to enter the notches in its appropriate ratchetwheel, and is preferably provided with a curved arm r (see Figs. 1 to 5) to ext-end upwardly from its pivoted end alongside of the proximate pawl-lever K K', the., actuating' the same ratchet-wheel. This curved arm r is provided with a lug or pin t, formed laterally on the upper end thereof in position to engage with a similar lug a on the side ofthe pawl-lever, so that when the pawl swings into engagement with the ratchet the lugs t u are brought into contact, and the dog 17 is by the first movement of the pawl lifted out of engagement with the ratchet, which is thereby permitted to move. Vhen the lugs t u have passed each other, the dog 17 again drops into engagement with the ratchet. The lugs t u are so placed as that the lug u on the pawllever passes outside of and free from the lug if on the dog, as shown in Fig. 3, exceptwhen the pawl swings into engagement with the ratchet. The luguon the pawl will then pass on the innerI side ot the lug on the dog,. as shown in Fig. and move it outward, lifting the dog from the ratchet, as above described.

To prevent the ,jar incident to taking an impression from the stamp from causing the armature to drop down independently of the attraction ot' the magnet, we provide a small spring-actuated stop 18, pivoted at its lower end to the magnet at the lower side of its lront end, and which automatically swings outward therefrom to bring its upper end under the armature. This stop has small arms 3S 3S (see Fig. 2) projecting therefrom later` ally on either side over the face of the magnet, which operate as an armature to draw the stop toward the magnet out of the way of the armature G when the magnet is energized by the current.

The movement of the stamping-arm B to produce an im pression is facilitated by means of a knob 19, fitted centrally upon the top ot the stampingcase C. This knob 19 is preferably mounted upon a separate shank or stem 20, fitted to the case,- the knob being reccssed to embrace the upper end of the shank loosely and have free play thereon, and confined by means of a central pin 21, which is made to pass down centrally through the shank, and is held bya wide-headed screw 22 entering its outer end. A spiral spring 23, interposed between the knob 19 and shank 20, is fitted within a central recess in the shank to encircle the pin. This spring serves to carry and hold the knob 19 in its outer position.

A latch or catch 21 is pivoted to the under side of the top of the case C, immediately over the arm G of the armature and in front of the lower end of the knob-pin 21. The lower end of the catch depends through a slot in the arm of the armature G. From its upper end, at its pivotal connection, an arm eX- tends back under the end of the knob-pin 21, and is slotted to receive it, so that the head ot the screw 22 upon said end shall overlap the edges of the slot, whereby when the knob 19 is upheld in its normal position by the stress ofthe spring 23 the arm of the catch 24 is drawn up, and the catch thereby held in its normal position, with its lower end depending through the arm G of the armature. lVhcn the knob 19 is depressed, as when itreceives the necessary pressure or blow to produce an impression from the registering-wheels, the downward movement of the pin 2l operates to free the arm of the catch 241, so thatitmay be automatically swung downward by the action of a spring 25, engaging its outer end. As the arm swings downward it will cause the catch 2t to swing forward so as to project over the top of the arm G so soon as the armature is depressed. A return upward movement ofthe armature, operating' to move the registering-wheels, is thus prevented until the knob 19 has returned to its normal posin tion. The upward movement of the knob will draw the catch 24C back to its first position, and so permit the armature to rise. The spring 25, by which the catch 21 is actuated, will permit the catch to yield and allow the armature to be carried down at anytime independently thereof, when attracted by the magnet, even though the knob 19 be at the moment depressed, and the upward movement of the armature is prevented by the catch only at the moment an impression is being taken and the knob is being t'orced down for the purpose.

The electrical connection ofthe wires from the battery and time transmitting' mechanism in circuit with the magnet is effected by means of two binding-posts 26, 27, (see Fig.7,) one of which 26 is secured to the hinge-pin 40 of the stamping-arm B iu the base A and through said arm with one end of the coil of the magnet, and the other 27, insulated from the frame A, is connected with an insulated pin 28, made to contact with the end of an in# sulated conducting-strip 29,(see Fig. 7,) which is fitted in a recess L11 under the stampingarm B (see Fig. 1) and connected with the The opposite end of the coil of the magnet.

IOO

IIO

, armature G.

insulation ofthe strip 41 may be effected, as

shownin Fig.1,by means of insulating-blocksl The printing-wheels are preferably inked by means of an inking ribbon 42, carried upon two spools 30 31 (see Fig. 2) and led in the customary manner from the one to the other, over the type on the wheels at line of print;but any form of inking device may be used.

In the operation of the device the outer printing-wheels 10 and 17 are adjusted by hand, the one 10 to register the current year and the other 17 to register the current month. The conducting-wires 43 43 from a suitable battery in a circuit which is closed at regular intervals in the customary manner by means of a clock are connected to the binding-posts 26 27, and the electro-magnet- D is thereby included in the circuit, so that 'the magnet will become energized each time the circuit is closed. So soon as the magnet is thus energized it will attract and depress the The armature when thus depressed will carry down with it the several pawls K K2 K3, &c., so that each of them will be in position to make anew engagement with its appropriate ratchet, and will when the pawl rises with the upward movement of the armature cause the Wheel which it engages to turn one step. The upward movement of the armature and its pawls is produced so soon as the electric circuit is opened by the stress of the coiled spring m, which actuates the arm G of the armature. With the circuit closing at each minute the irst minute-wheel 11 will be moved one step at each minute, thereby bringing the digits in succession to line of print, and so soon asthe number 9has been printed the notch on the adjacent disk b will permit the pawl of the second minute-Wheel l 12 to yswing into engagement with its ratchet to bring the next unit in order thereon to line of print to form with the first wheel 11 the numerals of two places needed to indicate the minutes above nine. At the next move after the number 59 is reached the cphers on both wheels will be brought to line of print, and a notch on the disk e of thetens minute-wheel will allow the pawl actuating thel hour-wheel to drop into engagement therewith to produce simultaneously its movement to change the hour. In like manner the meridian-wheel will be moved atA the end of every twelve hours, the first date-Wheel at the end of every twenty-four hours, and the second date-wheel at the end of every complete revolution of the irst to produce the double numbers indicating the days of the month.

An impression may be obtained from the Wheels atl any moment upon paper placed upon the pad 32 under the registering-wheels by pressing down the hinged stamping-arm B and With it the case C, carrying the wheels and inked ribbon, the movement being obtained by pressure or a blow upon the knob 19, while the retraction of the stamp mechanism is produced by the action ot' the spring 33 in the base of the stamp.

The automatic movement of the printingwheels under the action of the magnet at the moment an impression is being taken from the wheels is prevented by the lost motion allowed to the knob 19, which by actuating the latch 24 locks in manner as described the armature G so long as the requisite pressure is maintained upon the knob to produce the impression, the latch being thereafter automatically released by the action of the spring 23 raising the pin 21.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination, with the case of a timestamp and the indicating mechanism therein, of an electro-magnet havingasegmental form secured at one end to the lower plate of the case, an arm pivoted to the case above the magnet to extend in a direction parallel with its length above its upper or convex side to and beyond its upper end, and an armature carried by said arm to oscillate in a direction at right angles to the core of the magnet and actuate the indicating mechanism, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the case of a timestamp and with a series of time-wheels revolving upon a common axis in said case, of an electro-magnet xed in the case and bent in a segmental form, having the axis of said wheels as its center, an armature oscillating in a direction at a right angle with the core of the magnet, an arm carrying said armature and extending from the front of the magnet above it in a direction parallel with the length thereof to a pivotal point at the rear of the head, and pawls coupled to said armature and engaging said time-wheels to actuate them by the movement of the armature, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, in an electrical timestamp, of the base-plate, the hinged arm, the case carried by said arm, the electro-magnet inclosed in said case, the train of registeringwheels actuated by the movements of the armature of the magnet, and the bindingposts electrically connected mediately With the coil of the magnet, the one through the arm of the stamp and the other through a conductor insulated from the stamp and its base, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, in an electrical timestamp, of its electro-magnet, the armature moved thereby, the train of registering-wheels actuated by the movements of said armature, the spring-supported stamping-arm carrying said wheels and electro-mechanical devices, a yielding spring-seated knob'mounted in the end of the stamping-arm, and a spring-actuated catch normally retracted and held out IOO IIO

of enn'ngement with the armature of the inag- Substantially in the manner and for the purnet by said knob, substantially in the man pose herein set forth. ner and for the purpose herein set forth. In testimony whereof We have signed our 5. The combination, with an eleetro-mngnames to this speoieation in the presence of I5 5 net, an armature actuated thereby, and the two subscribing Witnesses.

time indiezttinp and registering mechanism Y V i T operated hy thX niovement of said arma-ture, W ARREN B' MARTB DALE' T' 1 Y 3 substantially as herein described, of a seoond D b1 RED HOLD MALMbORG' armature in position to be actuated by the lVitnesses:

ro magnet and when normally at rest to look C. K. JONES,

sind prevent n movement of the first armature, BERNARD HUFFTu 

